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High Honor in the Valley

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Mad River Riders and Community Partners Win USFS National Award for Blueberry Lake Trails - GMNF

January 20, 2015

U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell recently announced the 2014 Chief’s Honor Awards recipients. The staff of the Green Mountain National Forest, along with multiple partners and local businesses, received an award for promoting recreation opportunities in the Mad River Valley.

The Vermont Mountain Bike Association, Mad River Riders, Mad River Valley Planning District and a private donor are key partners in the Blueberry Lake project. The result of collaborative efforts include construction of over 5 miles of sustainably designed mountain bike trails, with an additional 1.5 miles ready for construction funding.

The trails are designed and constructed by Sustainable Trailworks, LLC, with contributions from the Mad River Riders and the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps, funded through State of Vermont Recreational Trails Program grants. The trail system has been recognized by a national mountain biking magazine, “Dirt Rag,” in addition to receiving an IMBA award for providing riding experiences for varied skill levels.

Over 450 volunteer hours, including time from Yestermorrow, Charlie Brown, Leonard Robinson, Green Mountain Valley School and the Mad River Riders, have assisted with improvements in the Blueberry Lake area.

At a December ceremony, Chief Tidwell acknowledged the outstanding collaborative effort exhibited between Forest Service employees, four partner organizations, individual volunteers, State and local government representatives, and local businesses to promote and enhance recreational resources on the Green Mountain National Forest (GMNF).

Holly Knox, Recreation Program Coordinator for the Rochester and Middlebury Districts, traveled to D.C. to accept the award on behalf of the 17 volunteers and partners named in the nomination. “Recreation is the portal for understanding and caring for natural resources and public lands and community engagement is essential for creating a sustainable recreation program on the GMNF” said Knox.

Chris Mattrick, District Ranger in charge of the section of National Forest stretching from Route 4 to Sugarbush Ski Area noted that “With 156 National Forests and Grasslands under the care of the US Forest Service, there is intense competition for these awards. We’re extremely proud of this recognition and all the work accomplished with our dedicated partners and volunteers.”

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The unique riding in Vermont is an illustration of the remarkable collaboration and dedication of VMBA chapters and their members, public land managers and the generosity of private landowners. We anticipate that all trail users will be courteous to one another, show respect for landowners and observe all field postings.